Newsroom

Kentucky PRC Releases Facebook Application for Cervical Cancer Awareness Campaign
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the leading risk factor for cervical cancer. As part of its research into ways to raise awareness of cervical cancer, the University of Kentucky Rural Cancer Prevention Center released a Facebook application

. The application creates an educational video about cervical cancer screening and vaccination for HPV that incorporates photos of the viewer and the viewer’s Facebook friends. The video explains how screening and HPV vaccination can prevent cervical cancer and invites viewers to share the application with their Facebook friends. The application is part of the center’s Cervical Cancer Free Kentucky initiative, a research project that aims to 1) increase the number of women in Kentucky who get Pap test, a screening test that can detect changes in cervical cells before they become cancerous, and 2) increase the number of eligible residents who get vaccinated against HPV.

Registration Opens for PRC Adolescent Sexual Health Course
The University of Texas at Houston PRC has opened registration for its 4th annual Adolescent Sexual Health Course, scheduled for June 12–14, 2012, at the university. This year’s course will focus on promoting sexual health in schools. Topics include evidence-based strategies for preventing sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy, media and today’s youth, and how to become a leader for adolescent sexual health. For more information and to register, visit the PRC’s website

News Media Feature PRCs’ Work
Since 2012 began, at least four media outlets have featured stories about PRC research:

In Lexington, Kentucky, the Public Broadcasting Service station KET aired a special report that explored ways to improve health in rural Kentucky. Among the efforts highlighted was research by the University of Kentucky Rural Cancer Prevention Center aimed at reducing incidence of cervical cancer in Appalachian Kentucky. The segment focused on the PRC’s project to increase vaccination use against the human papillomavirus, the main cause of cervical cancer. Watch the report from February 7, 2012.
The Alamosa, Colorado, Valley Courier published an article describing a University of Colorado PRC project designed to help middle school students improve their health habits. The PRC, in collaboration with school districts in the San Luis Valley, is developing and evaluating a curriculum to help students identify changes in the school environment that would promote healthy habits. For example, one school is planning to mandate the availability after-school programs, such as archery and fly tying, to give students alternatives to experimenting with alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. Read the article that was published February 7, 2012.

In College Station, Texas, KAGS-TV aired two reports about a project conducted by researchers at the Texas A&M Health Science Center PRC. The researchers are testing desks that allow students to stand while working. The hope is that the energy expended by standing rather than sitting will help reduce childhood obesity. The researchers also are assessing whether using the desks improves students’ behavior and learning. View the reports here and here that aired February 15, 2012.
In Fort Myers, Florida, National Public Radio affiliate WGCU aired a report that highlighted work by the University of South Florida PRC to improve eye protection among citrus workers. Eye injuries from exposure to chemicals, dust, and plant materials are common among citrus workers when they do not wear protective glasses. The PRC partnered with citrus workers and citrus harvesting companies to choose and distribute effective and comfortable glasses and to teach workers about the importance of eye safety while picking fruit. Listen to the radio report that was aired January 3, 2012.

PRCs Lead State of the Art Review on Adolescent Health
A set of PRCs contributed to producing the December 2011 issue of Adolescent Medicine: State of the Art Reviews (AM:STARs), a publication of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The issue focuses on health promotion for adolescents and young adults, and the issue editors are Alwyn Cohall, MD, director of the Columbia University PRC, and Michael Resnick, PhD, director of the University of Minnesota PRC. The articles by PRC researchers include the following topics:

Using social marketing, new media, technology, and clinician counseling in adolescent health promotion.
Enhancing young people’s resilience by strengthening their ability to resist risky, unhealthful behavior.
Integrating health interventions with employment and training programs for out-of-school youth.
Preventing teenage pregnancy.
Disseminating evidence-based smoking cessation programs for adolescents.

See “Advances in Health Promotion for Adolescents and Young Adults,” AM:STARS 2011;22(3).